"ملف XXXVIII/٤ قصف صور. أكتوبر - نوفمبر ١٩٢٨". [و‎‎١‎٤‎٨] (٣٦٨/٣٠٦)

Dated 1st October 1928.
24/134.
Politioal Resident, Bushire.
Government of India, New Selhi, No. 1096.
Secretary of State for India, No. 1096
with copy for Secretary of State for
Colonies, No. 115.
The following are the three points affect-
-ing the question. (1) Helplessness of the Muscat Gov-
-ernment (2) Necessity for prevention of anything which
would cause Wahahi feelings to he excited in Hasa or Nejd
and (3) our ultimate policy in regard to Muscat.
4
If improved circumstances continue the
presence of half a battalion with H.M.S. "■Enterprise"
would ensure No. (2). It would also give us time to
consider No. (3). Question of number of troops finally
required can however await report of Political Agent,
Muscat, and Senior Naval Officer.
Haference (3). Sir Denys Bray and I
touched on the question as to whether we could allow Sur
to go out of the Sultan’s hands since he could not him-
-self hold it. The reply appears to be definitely in
the negative. Sur in the ha nds of the Imam’s Govern-
-ment would give us more trouble than ever and the Sultan
would lose half his revenue since all trade with the
interior would be deflected to that port.
Thus I see no alternative to holding Sur.
The Sultan cannot do it and the question is what is the
best method of doing it ourselves.
The ultimate despatch of half a battalion
would appear then the only solution for the political
situation vide paragraph 4 of my accompanying telegram
No. 1095, but we can await further report as Political
Agent Muscat’s telegrams do not now appear to regard
matter as immediate.
Above refers to your telegram 2175